Rowena’s face darkened. She handed over a glass of water. “Don’t get upset. That baby in your belly is a Forsyth, no matter what Slade says. If he’s lost his mind, that doesn’t mean we have.“}
Logan looked at me sternly. “Are you sure the child is his?”
Tears spilled again as I nodded and handed them a sonogram and preliminary DNA test. “It’s really his.”
Rowena frowned deeply, silent for a moment. “Then stay here for now. We’ll handle it.”
But Logan turned to his assistant and barked, “Bring Slade back. If he doesn’t give us an explanation today, he’s not stepping foot in this estate again.”}
An hour later, Slade arrived, his expression like stone.
“Dad. Mom. I’m not marrying her.”
Logan pointed at him, furious. “And let us all be disgraced because of you? She’s carrying a child with no name–what will people say about our family?!”
Rowena tried to soften the blow. “Slade, we’re not forcing you, but Millicent… She’s had a hard life. And now she’s carrying a Forsyth
child…”
“I never accepted that child,” he said, his tone like frost. “From the moment she tricked me into this, I knew–I wanted no part of it.” “Bastard!” Logan roared. He hurled a teacup at his son. “You wouldn’t announce your relationship with Virginia, but now that she’s gone you play the grieving lover? Have you ever seen her once since she left?”
Slade didn’t dodge. The teacup struck his temple, blood spilling down his face.”
He just gritted his teeth and spoke quietly, “If you want the child, you raise it. But I won’t marry her.“>
“You think you still get to choose?” Logan exploded. “She’s pregnant, and you think you can just walk away? You think we’re running some royal harem here?”
Slade finally lifted his head. His eyes burned with rage and resentment. “So what you really want is a grandchild–not a son.“”
Rowena froze, her expression cracking.
Without another word, Slade turned and walked out.
Slade’s POVE
SOFF
That night, on the rooftop balcony, I called a number that had blocked me long ago.”
“The number cannot be reached.“}
I dialed again, but this time using Rhett’s phone.
Finally, Virginia answered.
“Who is this?”
“It’s me.” My voice was husky, laced with smoke and regret. “Virginia… it’s me.”
She was quiet for a beat. When she spoke again, her voice was cold. “What do you want?“}
I was breathless and desperate. “I… I miss you.”
But she let out a dry laugh. “Mr. Forsyth, I thought you were calling to cash out my shares. Didn’t expect you to call to make me laugh.”
Virginia’s POVE
Thanks to Fordy, I’d known about Millicent’s pregnancy for a while.
It was all too ironic. Slade left me because I wouldn’t have his child.
Now that Millicent was willing, he didn’t want it either.
“I don’t want that baby,” he choked out. “I don’t want anything to do with her. She manipulated me! And now… now I finally see clearly. You’re the only one I’ve ever had, Virginia.”
“Where was all this clarity before?” I scoffed. “We’re over. We’re nothing.“”
He frantically replied, “I–I–I was wrong. I messed up big time. Please, Virginia, I’ll change. I’ll make it right. I want to marry you. I want to start again,”
I said two words,
“Get lost.”
He froze.
I emphasized firmly. “Slade, I don’t love you anymore. Even if you dropped dead crying in front of me, I wouldn’t flinch. You make me sick. Do you hear me?”
And then he started to sob. “V–Virginia… you’re all I dream about. Every night I see you lying on the floor, calling my name. I regret it… God, I regret everything. Virginia, I’m losing my mind.”
That made me laugh for real. “Then lose it. That’s only fair.”
With that, I hung up.
Slade’s POV
stood alone in the night wind, my face pale as paper, agony swirling in my eyes.N
